Sri Suktam Explained - Part 16

Sri Suktam Explained - Part 16

The Next Mantra

उपैतु मां देवसखः कीर्तिश्च मणीना सह।
प्रादुर्भूतोऽस्मि राष्ट्रेऽस्मिन् कीर्तिमृद्धिं ददातु मे।

Not only wealth, but may Goddess Lakshmi also come to me with gems and fame, the fame that arises from knowledge and affluence.
उपैतु मां कीर्तिश्च मणीना सह।

I am born into this world only because of your grace. Grant me fame and wealth.


क्षुत्पिपासां मलां ज्येष्ठामलक्ष्मीं नाशयाम्यहम्।
अभूतिमसमृद्धिं च सर्वान्निर्णुद मे गृहात्।

क्षुत् – Hunger.
पिपासा – Thirst.
मलम् – Everything that is unclean.

Lack of cleanliness is associated with Alakshmi. If you keep your house unclean, Alakshmi will come and reside there. Prosperity cannot come to an unclean place; only Alakshmi will.

ज्येष्ठा – Again refers to Alakshmi, considered the wife of Dussaha or Kali Devata. She is called Dussahapatni or Kali Vallabha.

अभूतिःAbhuti is the lack of abundance, the absence of wealth such as houses, land, gardens, servants, and prosperity.
असमृद्धिः – Incomplete or insufficient prosperity.

The prayer seeks the removal of all these from the home:
सर्वान्निर्णुद मे गृहात् – Remove them entirely from my house.


The Next Mantra

गन्धद्वारां दुराधर्षां नित्यपुष्टां करीषिणीम्।
ईश्वरीं सर्वभूतानां तामिहोपह्वये श्रियम्।

गन्धद्वाराम्
द्वारम् means the gate. What is the gate through which Goddess Lakshmi is attained? It is through गन्धः (fragrance).

गन्धं पुष्पं च धूपं च दीपं च सुमनोहरम्।
लेह्यं मधुरसंयुक्तं शाल्यन्नं च निवेदयेत्।

The term Gandha refers to:

  • Chandana (sandalwood paste).
  • Flowers, especially lotuses, which are her favorite.
  • Dhupam (incense), Deepam (lamps), and Naivedyam (food offerings).

Formal worship using these offerings is the gate through which she is attained.

गन्धद्वाराम् also has another meaning:
यथा वृक्षस्य संपुष्पितस्य दूराद्गन्धो वाति।
एवं पुण्यस्य कर्मणो दूराद्गन्धो वाति।

As Sayana Acharya explains in the Mrityunjaya Mantra, just as the fragrance of a blooming tree like Champaka or Parijata is sensed from afar, so too is the effect of Punya Karmas (righteous actions). Their essence spreads far and wide.

Thus, Gandha symbolizes Punya Karma, and Lakshmi can be accessed through such virtuous deeds.


दुराधर्षाम् – She cannot be attained or approached casually. If you do not follow the prescribed methods of her worship, you cannot access her. Whimsical practices and random rituals will not yield results.

There are specific methods, such as:

  • Performing Lakshmi Vrata.
  • Conducting Shree Sukta Homa.

These are the correct ways to worship her.

नित्यपुष्टाम् – She is always abundant. Unlike temporary wealth that depletes, her abundance is eternal. No matter how much she gives, her prosperity remains undiminished.

सर्व काल सर्व देश सर्व वस्तुष्वपि सर्वदा पुष्टाम् – Her abundance is universal, timeless, and omnipresent.


करीषिणीम्कर्षवतीम् – मृद्वतीम् – Refers to the freshly ploughed soil of a field.

Freshly tilled earth is considered highly auspicious and is a favorite of Goddess Lakshmi because it symbolizes the beginning of cultivation, prosperity, and abundance.


ईश्वरीं सर्वभूतानाम् – She is the sovereign of all beings:

  • Devas.
  • Asuras.
  • Gandharvas.
  • Humans.
  • Siddhas and Rishis.

She is the Ishwari (Supreme Mistress) of everyone.


तामिहोपह्वये श्रियम् – I call upon her, inviting her here. Now that Alakshmi has been sent away, Goddess Lakshmi is being welcomed.


Beautiful Interpretation of 'Shri'

The term Shri combines various meanings:
शृणाति निखिलान् दोषान् – She destroys all faults.
श्रीणाति च गुणैर्जगत् – She fills the world with virtues.
श्रीयते चाखिलैर्नित्यं – She is praised eternally by all.
श्रयते च परं पदम् – She grants the highest state, Parama Pada.

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